Toxic algae blooms a big problem for anglers

Jun. 4, 2014

This Oct. 5, 2011 satellite photo from a NASA website shows algae blooms swirling on Lake Erie. A study released Monday, April 1, 2013 said the warming climate and modern farming practices are creating ideal conditions for gigantic algae formations on Lake Erie. The shallowest and southernmost of the Great Lakes, Erie contains just 2 percent of their combined waters but about half their fish. / AP Photo/NASA

Written by

Dick Martin

CentralOhio.com

It’s bad news for Lake Erie fishermen. The big lake will likely see another summer of massive toxic algae blooms as heavy rainfall continues to pump phosphorus from farms and other sources into the lake.

“It’s too soon to give an overall prediction, but from where we are right now, even if we didn’t get any more rainfall, we would already be getting what would be an average-sized bloom,”said Jeff Reutter, director of the Ohio Sea Grand and College Program.

Lake Erie’s multibillion dollar tourism industry has been threatened in recent years by the explosive growth of blue-green algae blooms. The algae, also known as cyanobacteria, produce powerful poisons that can harm the nerves, liver, kidneys and skin of people, especially children and animals that touch or drink the water.

• Planning to build and stock a new farm pond? John Hildreth, SWCD biologist, recommends stocking all or part of the following.

There must be food fish for predators. He recommends stocking approximately 30 or 40 pounds of shiners per acre, about 200 to 300 pounds of bluegills, and if the pond owner wishes, 30 to 50 pounds of catfish, 100 pounds of sunfish, and 150 to 200 pounds of tadpoles.

For predators, stock 50 to 60 pounds of largemouth bass per acre. If you like, 100 pounds of walleye and 100 pounds of yellow perch. John also noted some pond owners with a weed problem get overly concerned about stocking white amur (grass carp) and stock too many. He recommends no more than 6 to 8 per surface acre.

• According to the U.S. Cost Guard, alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in recreational boating deaths.

Operation Dry Water is offering a new video, which can be downloaded at operationdrywater.org, that focuses on the influence of alcohol. In the video, Mark Watts is interviewed about his experience following a fatal boating accident in Florida where Watts was operating a boat under the influence.

The Coast Guard also highly recommends all boaters of every age wear a life jacket when boating. There are jackets today that won’t inhibit fishing or other activities but in an accident can save your life.

• A team of Ohio conservationists is dedicated to re-establishing the endangered eastern hellbender, the largest amphibian in Ohio and one of the largest amphibians in the world.

Several organizations are working together to raise hellbenders to release in the wild. The Toledo Zoo, the Columbus Zoo, the Ohio Division of Wildlife and The Wilds have all been successful in raising hellbenders from eggs to sub-adults.

To date, more than 20 hellbenders have ben released into eastern Ohio streams.

• Recent research shows plant roots can absorb prions that cause chronic wasting disease from soil. However, it is unclear whether animals, such as deer, eating these plants can be infected.

Christopher Johnson of the National Wildlife Health Center has discovered that plants take up prions, infectious, deformed proteins, from contaminated soils and store them in stems and leaves. In turn, when Johnson injected these materials into laboratory mice, they showed evidence of the disease.

Because prions aren’t living organisms, they remain infectious indefinitely, whether they’re in soil or living matter.

• Teens interested in exploring the outdoors are encouraged to attend the Ohio Forestry and Wildlife Conservation Camp, June 8 to 13 at FFA Camp Muskingum on Leesville Lake in Carroll County.

The camp is a week-long resident camp that transforms the outdoors into an enjoyable classroom experience, while inspiring Ohio’s new generation of forest and wildlife caretakers.

Camp admission is $375 with sponsorships available through local SWCD offices. For information contact the Ohio Forestry Association at 888-38-TREES or visit ohioforest.org.

Dick Martin is a retired Shelby biology teacher and author who has written an outdoor column for more than 20 years. He can be reached at richmart@neo.rr.com.